No. 5 Alabama Football vs. Western Kentucky

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— The first game of the Kalen DeBoer era went off without a hitch at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday night as the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 63-0.

That’s because the Alabama football team, finally participating in real game action following all the talk about its twist-filled offseason, dismantled the overmatched Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the season opener. The Crimson Tide (1-0) scored 42 first-half points and didn’t look back. 

Here’s how it happened:

MOST RECENT EVENTS ARE AT THE TOP.

Fourth Quarter:

Third Quarter:

Second Quarter:

First Quarter:

Pregame:

Who: Alabama (0-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Western Kentucky (0-0, 0-0 Conference USA)

When: Saturday, Aug. 31, 6 p.m. CT

Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

TV: ESPN

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Tyler Watts). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to kickoff.

SiriusXM: 81

Series: Alabama leads 3-0 with the first meeting occurring on Sept. 13, 2008.

Last Meeting: On Sept. 10, 2016, the Crimson Tide defeated the Hilltoppers 38-13 in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 28-of-36 pass attempts for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley was certainly Hurts’ favorite target that afternoon as he hauled in nine receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, Reuben Foster was the tackles leader with six, Eddie Jackson and Ronnie Harrison each tallied an interception and Dalvin Tomlinson and Jonathan Allen had one sack apiece (Dakota Ball and Ryan Anderson split a sack).

Last Time Out, Alabama: The then-No. 4 Crimson Tide concluded last season with a 27-20 overtime loss to the then-No. 1 Michigan Wolverines in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024. Former Alabama running back (drafted by the Atlanta Falcons) Jase McClellan’s 14 carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns plus current quarterback Jalen Milroe’s 116 passing yards and 63 rushing yards weren’t enough to come up with a victory. One week later, Michigan defeated the Washington Huskies 34-13 in the National Championship.

Last Time Out, Western Kentucky:The Hilltoppers concluded last season with a 44-23 victory over the South Alabama Jaguars in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 21, 2023. Former Western Kentucky quarterback (signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears) Austin Reed threw a for a collegiate career-high 497 yards and four touchdowns.